Pepper hybrid PX 09939610

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid PX 09939610 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid PX 09939610 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Appl. Ser. No.61/572,293, filed Aug. 26, 2011, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of pepper hybrid PX 09939610 and theinbred pepper lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a pepper plant of thehybrid designated PX 09939610, the pepper line SBO 99-1245 or pepperline SMO 99-1258. Also provided are pepper plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of such a plant. Partsof these pepper plants are also provided, for example, including pollen,an ovule, scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid PX 09939610and/or pepper lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258 comprising an addedheritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise a geneticlocus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In oneembodiment of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid PX 09939610 and/orpepper lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258 is defined as comprising asingle locus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, anadded genetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the trait may beconferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of aline by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgeneintroduced through genetic transformation techniques into the plant or aprogenitor of any previous generation thereof. When introduced throughtransformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genesintegrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of pepper hybrid PX 09939610 and/orpepper lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258. The pepper seed of theinvention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population ofpepper seed of pepper hybrid PX 09939610 and/or pepper lines SBO 99-1245and SMO 99-1258. Essentially homogeneous populations of seed aregenerally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, seedof hybrid PX 09939610 and/or pepper lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258may be defined as forming at least about 97% of the total seed,including at least about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seedpopulation may be separately grown to provide an essentially homogeneouspopulation of pepper plants designated PX 09939610 and/or pepper linesSBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a pepper plant of hybrid PX 09939610 and/or pepper lines SBO99-1245 and SMO 99-1258 is provided. The tissue culture will preferablybe capable of regenerating pepper plants capable of expressing all ofthe physiological and morphological characteristics of the startingplant, and of regenerating plants having substantially the same genotypeas the starting plant. Examples of some of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the hybrid PX 09939610 and/or pepperlines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258 include those traits set forth in thetables herein. The regenerable cells in such tissue cultures may bederived, for example, from embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen,leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers, seed and stalks.Still further, the present invention provides pepper plants regeneratedfrom a tissue culture of the invention, the plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of hybrid PX 09939610and/or pepper lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing pepper seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent pepper plant with a second parentpepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent pepperplants is a plant of pepper line SBO 99-1245 or pepper line SMO 99-1258.These processes may be further exemplified as processes for preparinghybrid pepper seed or plants, wherein a first pepper plant is crossedwith a second pepper plant of a different, distinct genotype to providea hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant of pepper line SBO99-1245 or pepper line SMO 99-1258. In these processes, crossing willresult in the production of seed. The seed production occurs regardlessof whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent pepper plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent pepper plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent pepper plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent pepper plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a pepper plant or hybrid pepperplant.

The present invention also provides the pepper seeds and plants producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent pepper plant with asecond parent pepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent pepper plants is a plant of pepper hybrid PX 09939610 and/orpepper lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258. In one embodiment of theinvention, pepper seed and plants produced by the process are firstgeneration (F₁) hybrid pepper seed and plants produced by crossing aplant in accordance with the invention with another, distinct plant. Thepresent invention further contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybridpepper plant, and methods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplaryembodiments of the invention provide an F₁ hybrid pepper plant and seedthereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid PX 09939610 and/or pepper linesSBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258, the method comprising the steps of: (a)preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid PX 09939610 and/or pepperlines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258, wherein said preparing comprisescrossing a plant of the hybrid PX 09939610 and/or pepper lines SBO99-1245 and SMO 99-1258 with a second plant; and (b) crossing theprogeny plant with itself or a second plant to produce a seed of aprogeny plant of a subsequent generation. In further embodiments, themethod may additionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of asubsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generationwith itself or a second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional3-10 generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid PX 09939610and/or pepper lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258. The plant derived fromhybrid PX 09939610 and/or pepper lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258 maybe an inbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing steps may bedefined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line.In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plants resultingfrom step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). Byselecting plants having one or more desirable traits, a plant derivedfrom hybrid PX 09939610 and/or pepper lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258is obtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of theline/hybrid as well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of pepperhybrid PX 09939610 and/or pepper lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting atleast one pepper from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofpepper hybrid PX 09939610 and/or pepper lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO99-1258 is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used to refer tothe aggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of which sequencesdefines the phenotype of, in the present case, a pepper plant, or a cellor tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus represents thegenetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid geneticcomplement represents the genetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue orplant. The invention thus provides pepper plant cells that have agenetic complement in accordance with the pepper plant cells disclosedherein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid PX 09939610 and/or pepper lines SBO 99-1245and SMO 99-1258 could be identified by any of the many well knowntechniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by pepper plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a pepper plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second pepper plant, preferably, another, distinctpepper plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a pepperplant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid geneticcomplement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds and derivatives of pepper hybrid PX 09939610, pepper line SBO99-1245 and pepper line SMO 99-1258.

Sweet Pepper hybrid, PX 9939610, also known as Orange Blaze, develops aproductive, semi-open, small to medium-sized plant. The plant producessmall bright orange fruit that commonly weigh about 50 to 70 g. Thefruits most commonly have two to three lobes, and are trapezoidal inshape. Fruits are generally about 9×4 cm (L×D). The skin is generallytough with a semi-sweet flavor. The hybrid is resistant to the Tobaccomosaic virus pathotype P0 (Tm0). It is also resistant to bacterial leafspot races 0, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv.vesicatoria (Xcv), and the mild form of Tobacco etch virus (TEV), andPotato Virus Y pathotype P₀ (PVY). The hybrid is adapted to a wide rangeof environments.

Pepper line SBO 99-1245 develops an open habit plant that produces aheavy set of very firm, small, very smooth, deep, lightly tapered,medium dark green fruit maturing to quickly coloring orange fruit. Theline is resistant to the Tobacco mosaic virus pathotype P0 (Tm0). It isalso resistant to bacterial leaf spot races 0, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 causedby Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv) and Potato Virus Ypathotype P0 (PVY).

Pepper line SMO 99-1258 develops a medium-sized plant and produces anearly set of crunchy, bright orange fruit. The fruit are medium-small,somewhat pointed fruit with two to three lobes. The line is resistant tothe Tobacco mosaic virus pathotype P0 (Tm0) and Potato virus Y pathotypeP0 (PVY).

A. Origin and Breeding History of Pepper Hybrid PX 09939610

The parents of hybrid PX 09939610 are SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258. Theseparents were created as follows:

SBO 99-1245 was developed at the Seminis Breeding Stations in Felda,Fla. (LB) by pedigree selection from Seminis hybrid SVR 8275976. Thishybrid resulted from the cross between female “97LB 9807-01” and male“95LB 6358-01”. The line develops an open habit plant that produces aheavy set of very firm, small, very smooth, deep, lightly tapered,medium dark green fruit maturing to quickly coloring orange fruit. Theline is resistant to the Tobacco mosaic virus pathotype P0 (Tm0; L1gene). It is also resistant to bacterial leaf spot races 0, 1, 2, 3, 7and 8 caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv; Bs2 gene)and Potato Virus Y pathotype P₀ (pvr2-2 gene) [PVY].

The female parent, 97LB 9807-01, was an orange-fruited line segregatingfor the anthocyaninless trait, segregating for resistance to Xcv races0, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8, and was resistant to both Tm0 and PVY. The maleparent, 95LB 6358-01, produced an orange fruited line that was resistantto Tm0, and PVY. SBO 99-1245 differs from 97LB 9807-01 because 97LB9807-01 was segregating for the anthocyaninless trait and segregatingfor resistance to Xcv races 0, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8, while SBO 99-1245 isnot anthocyaninless but is fixed for resistant to Xcv races 0, 1, 2, 3,7 and 8. SBO 99-1245 differs from 95LB 6358-01 because 95LB 6358-01 issusceptible to Xcv races 0, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8, while SBO 99-1245 isresistant to these Xcv races.

The crossing and selections were made as follows:

-   July, Year 1: The F₁ hybrid, SVR 8275976, was made from the parents    97LB 9807-01 and 95LB 6358-01 at the Seminis Research Station in    Felda, Fla.-   July, Year 2: Plants of the F₁ hybrid SVR 8275976 were transplanted    into a hybrid trial in Felda, Fla. as stake 98LB 14014. Plants of    the line were selfed and seed from the selfed plants were massed.-   January, Year 3: Planted the F₂ inbred line 98LB 14014-M in Felda,    Fla. as stake 99LB 0834. Individual plants were selected.-   July, Year 3: Planted the F₃ inbred line 99LB 0834-10 in Felda, Fla.    as stake 99LB 8746. Individual plants were selected.-   January, Year 4: Planted the F₄ inbred line 99LB 8746-01 in Felda,    Fla. as stake 00LB 1552. Individual plants were selected.-   July, Year 4: Planted the F₅ inbred line 00LB 1552-01 in Felda, Fla.    as stake 00LB 08737-01. Individual plants were selected.-   January, Year 5: Planted the F₆ inbred line 00LB 08737-01 in Felda,    Fla. as stake 01LB 04175. The line developed a medium-large plant    the produced an adequate set of firm, tapered fruit that turned    color quickly to orange. Individual plants were selected.-   July, Year 5: Planted the F₇ inbred line 01LB 04175-01 as stake 01LB    07813-01. The line developed a medium, open-habit plant that    produced and early set of uniformly shaped, very firm, and very    smooth fruit. Individual plants were selected.-   January, Year 6: Planted the F₇ inbred line 01LB 07813-01 as stake    02LB 04015. The line developed an open habit plant that produced    lightly tapered, very firm, and very smooth orange fruit. Seed from    plants of the line were bulked as 02LB 04015-M-   May, Year 9: The seed of 02LB 04015-M tested resistant to Tm0, PVY    and races 0, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 Xcv. It was submitted to Foundation    Seed as parent SBO 99-1245.

SBO 99-1245 has been observed as uniform and stable over two generationsduring four years and it is within commercially acceptable limits. As istrue with other sweet pepper inbreds, a small percentage of variants canoccur within commercially acceptable limits for almost anycharacteristic during the course of repeated multiplication. However, noknown variants were observed during the times that SBO 99-1245 wasobserved in four field trials and four times it was observed in greenhouse trials.

SMO 99-1258 was developed at the Seminis Breeding StationsHonselersdijk, the Netherlands and in Felda, Fla. (LB) by pedigreeselection from Seminis hybrid that resulted from the cross betweenfemale “Pluto/SBB” and male “Red mini/orange mini”. The line develops amedium-sized plant and produces an early set of crunchy, bright orangefruit. The fruit are medium-small, somewhat pointed fruit with two tothree lobes. The line is resistant to the Tobacco mosaic virus pathotypeP0 (Tm0; L1 gene) and Potato virus Y pathotype P0 (pvr2-2 gene) [PVY].The female parent, “Pluto/SBB”, was a small pointed red pepper resistantto both Tm0 and PVY. The male parent, “Red mini/orange mini”, was asmall pointed orange pepper resistant to PVY. Neither parent wasmarketed directly as open pollinated lines. SMO 99-1258 differs from“Pluto/SBB” because “Pluto/SBB” was segregating for red fruit and wasmore pointed in shape than SMO 99-1258. SMO 99-1258 differs from “Redmini/orange mini” because “Red mini/orange mini” is susceptible to Tm0while SMO 99-1258 is resistant to Tm0.

The crossing and selections were made as follows:

-   January, Year 1: The F₁ hybrid was made from the parents “Pluto/SBB”    and “Red mini/orange mini” in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands.-   July, Year 1: Plants of the F₁ hybrid were transplanted into a    hybrid trial in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands. Plants of the line    were selfed and seed from the selfed plants were massed as accession    number 20006118.-   January, Year 2: Planted the F₂ inbred line 20006118 in    Honselersdijk, the Netherlands as stake 2568. The line was    segregating for red and orange pointed fruit. The line was also    segregating for Tm0 and PVY resistance. A selection of the line was    made and assigned accession number 20013561.-   July, Year 2: Planted the F₃ inbred line 20013561 in Honselersdijk,    the Netherlands as stake 260. The line produced pointed orange fruit    that segregated for resistance to Tm0 and PVY. A selection of the    line was made and assigned accession number 20021114.-   January, Year 3: Planted the F₄ inbred line 20021114 in    Honselersdijk, the Netherlands as stake 182. The line produced    pointed orange fruit fixed for Tm0 and PVY resistance. A selection    of the line was made and assigned accession number 20023012.-   July, Year 4: Planted the F₅ inbred accession 20023012 in a    greenhouse in Felda, Fla. as stake 03LB LBGH 8344. Individual plants    were selfed and seed from the plants were bulked.-   January, Year 5: Planted the F₆ inbred line 03LB LBGH 8344-M as    stake 04LB 01801. Individual plants were selected.-   July, Year 5: Planted the F₇ inbred line 04LB 01801-01 as stake 04LB    07546.-   December, Year 6: The seed of 04LB 07546-01 tested resistant to Tm0    and PVY. It was submitted to Foundation Seed as parent SMO 99-1258.

SMO 99-1258 has been observed as uniform and stable over two generationsduring three years and it is within commercially acceptable limits. Asis true with other sweet pepper inbreds, a small percentage of variantscan occur within commercially acceptable limits for almost anycharacteristic during the course of repeated multiplication. However, noknown variants were observed during the times that SMO 99-1258 wasobserved in four field trials and one time it was observed in a greenhouse trial.

The parent lines are uniform and stable, as is a hybrid producedtherefrom. A small percentage of variants can occur within commerciallyacceptable limits for almost any characteristic during the course ofrepeated multiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Pepper Hybrid PX09939610, Pepper Line SBO 99-1245 and Pepper Line SMO 99-1258

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of pepper hybrid PX 09939610 and the parent linesthereof. A description of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of such plants is presented in Tables 1-3.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Hybrid PX09939610 Comparison Variety - Characteristic PX 09939610 Early CalWonder 1. Species C. annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of bestadaptability) days from transplanting until 57 67 mature green stagedays from transplanting until 78 85 mature red or yellow stage days fromdirect seeding until 83 104 mature green stage days from direct seedinguntil 104 122 mature red or yellow stage 3. Plant habit compact compactattitude upright/erect (De upright/erect Cayenne, Doux très long desLandes, Piquant d'Algérie) plant height 37.1 cm 40.9 cm plant width 36.8cm 47.1 cm length of stem from cotyledon 12.1 cm 10.7 cm to first flowerlength of the third internode 75.3 mm 54 mm (from soil surface) lengthof stem medium (Belsir, medium Lamuyo) shortened internode (in upperabsent (California absent part) Wonder, De Cayenne) length of internode(on medium (Dolmi, medium primary side shoots; varieties Florian, Órias)without shortened internodes only) stem: hairiness of nodes absent orvery weak absent or very weak (Arlequin) height tall (Century Orias)medium basal branches few (2-3) few branch flexibility willowy (Cayennerigid Long Red) stem strength (breakage strong intermediate resistance)4. Leaf length of blade medium (Atol, Blondy, medium Marconi, Merit,Anthea) width of blade medium (Albaregia, medium Balaton, Danubia,Marconi, Merit) width 44.8 mm 60 mm length 87 mm 113.3 mm petiole length39.2 mm 46 mm color dark green light green color (RHS color chart) 146A147A intensity of green color medium (Doux très light long des Landes,Merit) mature leaf shape lanceolate (Diavolo, ovate Recio) leaf and stempubescence absent absent undulation of margin weak (Doux très longabsent des Landes) blistering strong (Greygo, PAZ weak pallagi) profilein cross section strongly concave moderately concave (Slávy) glossinessmedium (Alby, Eolo) medium 5. Flower peduncle: attitude semi-droopingerect (Blondy) flowers per leaf axil 1 1 calyx lobes 6 6 petals 6 6diameter 24 mm 25.1 mm corolla color white white corolla throat markingsyellow yellow anther color purple purple style length exceeds stamensame as stamen self-incompatibility present absent 6. Fruit group Bell(Yolo Wonder L.) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) color (before maturity) green(California green Wonder, Lamuyo) intensity of color (before mediummedium maturity) immature fruit color medium green medium green immaturefruit color (RHS N144A 137A color chart) attitude/positiondrooping/pendent (De drooping/pendent Cayenne, Lamuyo) length medium(Fehér, medium Lamuyo) diameter medium (Doux italien, broad Corno ditoro) ratio length/diameter large (Heldor, Lamuyo, medium Magister,Tenno, Vidi) calyx diameter 25.5 mm 32 mm fruit length 98.3 mm 80 mmfruit diameter at calyx 51.3 mm 70 mm attachment fruit diameter atmid-point 46.6 mm 80 mm flesh thickness at mid-point 4.3 mm 6 mm averagenumber of fruits per 18 10 plant % large fruits 18 (weight range: 60 to50 (weight range 140 to 100 g) 199 g) % medium fruits 46 (weight range:30 to 30 (weight range 80 to 59 g) 139 g) % small fruits 36 (weightrange: 10 to 20 (weight range 20 to 29 g) 79 g) average fruit weight42.7 gm 100 gm fruit shape (longitudinal trapezoidal (Delta, squaresection) Piperade) fruit shape (cross section, at angular/tri-angularquadrangular level of placenta) (Vinedale) sinuation of pericarp atbasal weak (Donat) very weak part sinuation of pericarp weak (Clovis,Sonar) very weak excluding basal part texture of surface smooth or veryslightly smooth or very slightly wrinkled (Milord) wrinkled color (atmaturity) orange (Ariane) red intensity of color (at maturity) mediumdark mature fruit color orange red mature fruit color (RHS color N30C46A chart) glossiness strong (Doux italien, medium/moderate Trophy)stalk cavity present (Bingor, absent Lamuyo) pedicel length 32.6 mm 20mm pedicel thickness 6.8 mm 6 mm pedicel shape curved curved pedicelcavity present absent stalk: length medium (Fehér, Sonar) medium stalk:thickness medium (Doux italien, medium Surpas base shape cupped cuppedshape of apex moderately depressed very depressed (Quadrato a'Astirosso) shape Oblate (Sunnybrook) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) set concentratedscattered depth of interloculary grooves medium (Clovis, medium Lamuyo,Marconi) number of locules predominantly three predominantly four and(Century) more % fruits with two locules 13%  0% % fruits with threelocules 50% 40% % fruits with four locules 37% 60% average number oflocules 3 4 thickness of flesh medium (Fehér, thick Lamuyo) calyx:aspect non-enveloping/ non-enveloping/saucer- saucer-shaped shaped(Lamuyo, Sonar) pungency sweet sweet capsaicin in placenta absent(Sonar) absent flavor mild pepper flavor moderate glossiness shiny shiny7. Seed seed cavity length 88.1 mm 43 mm seed cavity diameter 38 mm 52mm placenta length 17.5 mm 22 mm number of seeds per fruit 174 100 gramsper 1000 seeds 3.7 gm 7.5 gm color yellow yellow 8. Anthocyanin seedlinghypocotyl absent (Albaregia, moderate Albena) stem absent absentcoloration of nodes moderate weak intensity of coloration of medium(Clovis, medium nodes Lamuyo, Sonar) leaf absent absent pedicel absentabsent calyx absent absent anther present (Lamuyo) present fruitcoloration absent (Lamuyo) absent beginning of flowering (1^(st) early(Carré doux extra early flower on 2^(nd) flowering node) hâtif, Cupido,Fehér, Flaviano, Lito, Trophy) time of maturity early (Fehér, Lady Bell,medium Topgirl) *These are typical values. Values may vary due toenvironment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are alsowithin the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line SBO99-1245 Comparison Variety - Characteristic SBO 99-1245 Early CalWonder 1. Species C. annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of bestadaptability) days from transplanting until 62 67 mature green stagedays from transplanting until 98 85 mature red or yellow stage days fromdirect seeding until 94 104 mature green stage days from direct seedinguntil 130 122 mature red or yellow stage 3. Plant habit compact compactattitude upright/erect (De upright/erect Cayenne, Doux très long desLandes, Piquant d'Algérie) plant height 53.7 cm 40.9 cm plant width 45.3cm 47.1 cm length of stem from cotyledon 14.3 cm 10.7 cm to first flowerlength of the third internode 85.2 mm 54 mm (from soil surface) lengthof stem long (Lipari, Marconi, medium Rouge long ordinaire) shortenedinternode (in upper present (Fehér, absent part) Kalocsai 601, Kalocsai702) stem: hairiness of nodes absent or very weak absent or very weak(Arlequin) height tall (Century Orias) medium basal branches none fewbranch flexibility rigid (Yolo Wonder) rigid stem strength (breakageintermediate intermediate resistance) 4. Leaf length of blade long(Cupido, Dolmy, medium Encore, Mazurka, Monte) width of blade broad(California medium Wonder, Golden Calwonder, Seifor, Solario) width 55.6mm 60 mm length 107.2 113.3 mm petiole length 36.6 mm 46 mm color darkgreen light green color (RHS color chart) 137C 147A intensity of greencolor dark (Dolmy, Tinto) light mature leaf shape lanceolate (Diavolo,ovate Recio) leaf and stem pubescence absent absent undulation of marginweak (Doux très long absent des Landes) blistering medium (Merit) weakprofile in cross section strongly concave moderately concave (Slávy)glossiness very weak (Diavolo) medium 5. Flower peduncle: attitudesemi-drooping erect (Blondy) flowers per leaf axil 1 1 calyx lobes 6 6petals 6 6 diameter 28.5 mm 25.1 mm corolla color white white corollathroat markings yellow yellow anther color purple purple style lengthless than stamen same as stamen self-incompatibility absent absent 6.Fruit group Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) color (beforematurity) green (California green Wonder, Lamuyo) intensity of color(before medium medium maturity) immature fruit color medium green mediumgreen immature fruit color (RHS 143A 137A color chart) attitude/positiondrooping/pendent (De drooping/pendent Cayenne, Lamuyo) length long (Douxd'Espagne, medium Majister) diameter medium (Doux italien, broad Cornodi toro) ratio length/diameter small (Bucano, medium Topgirl) calyxdiameter 26.6 mm 32 mm fruit length 92.8 mm 80 mm fruit diameter atcalyx 58 mm 70 mm attachment fruit diameter at mid-point 58.5 mm 80 mmflesh thickness at mid-point 5 mm 6 mm average number of fruits per 9.210 plant % large fruits 14.50 (weight range: 50 (weight range 140 to 100to 150 g) 199 g) % medium fruits 62.00 (weight range: 50 30 (weightrange 80 to to 99 g) 139 g) % small fruits 23.50 (weight range: 1 20(weight range 20 to to 49 g) 79 g) average fruit weight 74.1 gm 100 gmfruit shape (longitudinal square (Delphin, Yolo square section) Wonder)fruit shape (cross section, at circular (Cherry Sweet, quadrangularlevel of placenta) Doux très long des Landes) sinuation of pericarp atbasal absent or very weak very weak part (Delphin, Kalocsai, V-2,Milord) sinuation of pericarp weak (Clovis, Sonar) very weak excludingbasal part texture of surface smooth or very slightly smooth or veryslightly wrinkled (Milord) wrinkled color (at maturity) orange (Ariane)red intensity of color (at maturity) medium dark mature fruit colororange red mature fruit color (RHS color N30C 46A chart) glossiness weak(Doux très long medium/moderate des Landes) stalk cavity present(Bingor, absent Lamuyo) pedicel length 44.5 mm 20 mm pedicel thickness10.1 mm 6 mm pedicel shape curved curved pedicel cavity present absentstalk: length very long (Farnese, medium Lipari, Oasis) stalk: thicknessmedium (Doux italien, medium Surpas base shape cupped cupped shape ofapex moderately depressed very depressed (Quadrato a'Asti rosso) shapeBell (Yolo Wonder L.) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) set concentrated scattereddepth of interloculary grooves very shallow medium number of loculespredominantly four and predominantly four and more (Palio, PAZ moreszentesi) % fruits with two locules    8%  0% % fruits with threelocules 38.50% 40% % fruits with four locules 53.50% 60% average numberof locules 3.7 4 thickness of flesh medium (Fehér, thick Lamuyo) calyx:aspect non-enveloping/ non-enveloping/saucer- saucer-shaped shaped(Lamuyo, Sonar) pungency sweet sweet capsaicin in placenta absent(Sonar) absent flavor moderate pepper flavor moderate glossinessmoderate shiny 7. Seed seed cavity length 74.9 mm 43 mm seed cavitydiameter 47.9 mm 52 mm placenta length 27.8 mm 22 mm number of seeds perfruit 127.5 100 grams per 1000 seeds 6.1 gm 7.5 gm color yellow yellow8. Anthocyanin seedling hypocotyl absent (Albaregia, moderate Albena)stem absent absent coloration of nodes weak weak intensity of colorationof weak (California medium nodes wonder, Clio, Doux d'Espagne, Dous trèslong des Landes, Golden Calwonder) leaf absent absent pedicel absentabsent calyx absent absent anther present (Lamuyo) present fruitcoloration weak absent beginning of flowering (1^(st) early (Carré douxextra early flower on 2^(nd) flowering node) hâtif, Cupido, Fehér,Flaviano, Lito, Trophy) time of maturity medium (Lamuyo, medium Latino,Sonar) *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environmentOther values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scopeof the invention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line SMO99-1258 Comparison Variety - Characteristic SMO 99-1258 Early CalWonder 1. Species C. annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of bestadaptability) days from transplanting until 55 67 mature green stagedays from transplanting until 81 85 mature red or yellow stage days fromdirect seeding until 87 104 mature green stage days from direct seedinguntil 114 122 mature red or yellow stage 3. Plant habit compact compactattitude upright/erect (De upright/erect Cayenne, Doux très long desLandes, Piquant d'Algérie) plant height 51.7 cm 40.9 cm plant width 47.7cm 47.1 cm length of stem from cotyledon 12.2 cm 10.7 cm to first flowerlength of the third internode 112.8 mm 54 mm (from soil surface) lengthof stem medium (Belsir, medium Lamuyo) shortened internode (in upperpresent (Fehér, absent part) Kalocsai 601, Kalocsai 702) stem: hairinessof nodes absent or very weak absent or very weak (Arlequin) height tall(Century Orias) medium basal branches none few branch flexibilitywillowy (Cayenne rigid Long Red) stem strength (breakage weakintermediate resistance) 4. Leaf length of blade medium (Atol, Blondy,medium Marconi, Merit, Anthea) width of blade medium (Albaregia, mediumBalaton, Danubia, Marconi, Merit) width 49.5 mm 60 mm length 94 mm 113.3mm petiole length 49.4 mm 46 mm color dark green light green color (RHScolor chart) 146A 147A intensity of green color dark (Dolmy, Tinto)light mature leaf shape ovate (Balico, Sonar) ovate leaf and stempubescence absent absent undulation of margin weak (Doux très longabsent des Landes) blistering weak (Pusztagold) weak profile in crosssection moderately concave moderately concave (Doux italien, Favolor)glossiness very weak (Diavolo) medium 5. Flower peduncle: attitudesemi-drooping erect (Blondy) flowers per leaf axil 1 1 calyx lobes 6 6petals 6 6 diameter 21.9 mm 25.1 mm corolla color white white corollathroat markings yellow yellow anther color yellow purple style lengthexceeds stamen same as stamen self-incompatibility present absent 6.Fruit group Pimento (Pimento Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) Perfection) color(before maturity) green (California green Wonder, Lamuyo) intensity ofcolor (before light medium maturity) immature fruit color medium greenmedium green immature fruit color (RHS 144A 137A color chart)attitude/position drooping/pendent (De drooping/pendent Cayenne, Lamuyo)length short (Delphin, Petit medium carré doux) diameter narrow (Douxtrès long broad des Landes) ratio length/diameter small (Bucano, mediumTopgirl) calyx diameter 21.4 mm 32 mm fruit length 78.9 mm 80 mm fruitdiameter at calyx 43.2 mm 70 mm attachment fruit diameter at mid-point39.5 mm 80 mm flesh thickness at mid-point 3.7 mm 6 mm average number offruits per 25.9 10 plant % large fruits 21.50 (weight range: 60 50(weight range 140 to to 67 g) 199 g) % medium fruits 46.50 (weightrange: 20 30 (weight range 80 to to 59 g) 139 g) % small fruits 32(weight range: 1 to 20 (weight range 20 to 19 g) 79 g) average fruitweight 24.3 gm 100 gm fruit shape (longitudinal rectangular (Clovis,square section) Nocera rosso) fruit shape (cross section, at circular(Cherry Sweet, quadrangular level of placenta) Doux très long desLandes) sinuation of pericarp at basal absent or very weak very weakpart (Delphin, Kalocsai, V-2, Milord) sinuation of pericarp weak(Clovis, Sonar) very weak excluding basal part texture of surface smoothor very slightly smooth or very slightly wrinkled (Milord) wrinkledcolor (at maturity) orange (Ariane) red intensity of color (at maturity)medium dark mature fruit color orange red mature fruit color (RHS colorN30C 46A chart) glossiness medium/moderate medium/moderate (Carré douxextra hâtif, Lamuyo, Sonar) stalk cavity present (Bingor, absent Lamuyo)pedicel length 28.5 mm 20 mm pedicel thickness 5.3 mm 6 mm pedicel shapecurved curved pedicel cavity present absent stalk: length medium (Fehér,Sonar) medium stalk: thickness medium (Doux italien, medium Surpas) baseshape cupped cupped shape of apex moderately acute very depressed shapeConical (Pimento) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) set scattered scattered depth ofinterloculary grooves very shallow medium number of loculespredominantly three predominantly four and (Century) more % fruits withtwo locules 31.50%  0% % fruits with three locules 50.00% 40% % fruitswith four locules 18.50% 60% average number of locules 2.9 4 thicknessof flesh medium (Fehér, thick Lamuyo) calyx: aspect non-enveloping/non-enveloping/saucer- saucer-shaped shaped (Lamuyo, Sonar) pungencysweet sweet capsaicin in placenta absent (Sonar) absent flavor mildpepper flavor moderate glossiness moderate shiny 7. Seed seed cavitylength 67 mm 43 mm seed cavity diameter 31.1 mm 52 mm placenta length23.3 mm 22 mm number of seeds per fruit 151 100 grams per 1000 seeds 4.7gm 7.5 gm color yellow yellow 8. Anthocyanin seedling hypocotyl weakmoderate stem weak absent coloration of nodes weak weak intensity ofcoloration of medium (Clovis, medium nodes Lamuyo, Sonar) leaf absentabsent pedicel absent absent calyx absent absent anther present (Lamuyo)present fruit coloration weak absent beginning of flowering (1^(st)early (Carré doux extra early flower on 2^(nd) flowering node) hâtif,Cupido, Fehér, Flaviano, Lito, Trophy) time of maturity very early(Koral, medium Macska sárga, Madison) *These are typical values. Valuesmay vary due to environment. Other values that are substantiallyequivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Pepper Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof pepper hybrid PX 09939610 involving crossing pepper lines SBO 99-1245and SMO 99-1258. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention,hybrid PX 09939610, line SBO 99-1245, or line SMO 99-1258 may be crossedwith itself or with any second plant. Such methods can be used forpropagation of hybrid PX 09939610 and/or the pepper lines SBO 99-1245and SMO 99-1258, or can be used to produce plants that are derived fromhybrid PX 09939610 and/or the pepper lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258.Plants derived from hybrid PX 09939610 and/or the pepper lines SBO99-1245 and SMO 99-1258 may be used, in certain embodiments, for thedevelopment of new pepper varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid PX 09939610 followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plantof the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross with PX09939610 and/or pepper lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258 for the purposeof developing novel pepper lines, it will typically be preferred tochoose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or more selecteddesirable characteristics or which exhibit the desired characteristic(s)when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirable traits may include, inspecific embodiments, high seed yield, high seed germination, seedlingvigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance or resistance, andadaptability for soil and climate conditions. Consumer-driven traits,such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and taste are other examples oftraits that may be incorporated into new lines of pepper plantsdeveloped by this invention.

D. Performance Characteristics

As described above, hybrid PX 09939610 exhibits desirable traits, asconferred by pepper lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258. The performancecharacteristics of hybrid PX 09939610 and pepper lines SBO 99-1245 andSMO 99-1258 were the subject of an objective analysis of the performancetraits relative to other varieties. The results of the analysis arepresented below.

TABLE 4 Performance Characteristics for Hybrid PX 09939610 Highlyresistant to Races 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 Bacterial leaf spot Highlyresistant to Tobacco etch Potato Virus Y 3 and 4-lobe Variety Source(Xanthomonas euvesicatoria Tobamovirus (P0) virus (TEV) pathotype P₀(PVY) blockly shape PX 09939610 Monsanto Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yummy mixSeedway No No No No No

TABLE 5 Performance Characteristics for Line SBO 99-1245 and Comparativevariety bacterial leaf spot race 0, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 caused Tobacco byXanthomonas Potato mosaic virus campestris Virus Y pathotype pv.vesicatoria pathotype Fruit P0 (Tm0) (Xcv) P₀ (PVY) Color SBO 99-1245resistant resistant resistant orange Early susceptible susceptiblesusceptible red California Wonder

TABLE 6 Performance Characteristics for Line SMO 99-1258 and Comparativevariety Tobacco mosaic Potato Virus Y virus pathotype pathotype P₀ P0(Tm0) (PVY) Fruit Color SMO 99-1258 resistant resistant orange EarlyCalifornia susceptible susceptible red Wonder

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those pepper plants which are developed by a plantbreeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalpepper plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristicis termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers tothe fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcrossprotocol and therefore does not recur. The parental pepper plant towhich the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred isknown as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in thebackcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a pepper plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny pepper plants of a backcross in which a plantdescribed herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired traitfrom the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of pepper the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiology, 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an eliteline. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traitsinto an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the eliteline by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. Whenthis elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed withanother parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possibleto then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into thehybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as adisease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, eachlocus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may needto be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in thehybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined toconfer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of pepper plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent onthe phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recenttechnological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated genetransfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites inthe vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable ofexpressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described haveconvenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and apolyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptidecoding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed anddisarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985; U.S.Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature,312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986;Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants andexpression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl.Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985),including in monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591,1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990); a tandemlyduplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter(P-e35S); 1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol.,88:547, 1988); the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell,1:977, 1989); and the figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter(P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem;the cauliflower mosaic virus 19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform viruspromoter; a commelina yellow mottle virus promoter; and other plant DNAvirus promoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., PlantPhysiol., 88:965, 1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter,Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter,Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-bindingprotein promoter, Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones,such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4)wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5)chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It mayalso be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal etal., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988;Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a pepper plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a pepper plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be acatalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desiredendogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson and Shillito, Mol.Biotech., 7:125, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNAwhich expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is usefulfor the practice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color chart value: The RHS color chartis a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of anycolor. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightnessand saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS color chart byidentifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g., Yellow-OrangeGroup 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of a peppervariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/orby genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a pepper plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

A deposit of pepper hybrid PX 09939610 and inbred parent lines SBO99-1245 and SMO 99-1258, disclosed above and recited in the claims, hasbeen made with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of deposit was Aug.22, 2011. The accession numbers for those deposited seeds of pepperhybrid PX 09939610 and inbred parent lines SBO 99-1245 and SMO 99-1258are ATCC Accession No. PTA-12043, ATCC Accession No. PTA-12044, and ATCCAccession No. PTA-12045, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, allrestrictions upon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits areintended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. Thedeposits will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years,or 5 years after the last request, or for the effective life of thepatent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary duringthat period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pepper plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of pepper line SBO 99-1245 or pepper line SMO 99-1258, asample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-12044 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-12045, respectively.
 2. Apepper seed comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of pepperline SBO 99-1245 or pepper line SMO 99-1258, a sample of seed of saidlines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12044 andATCC Accession Number PTA-12045, respectively.
 3. The plant of claim 1,which is an inbred.
 4. The plant of claim 1, which is a hybrid.
 5. Theplant of claim 4, wherein the hybrid plant is pepper hybrid PX 09939610,a sample of seed of said hybrid PX 09939610 having been deposited underATCC Accession Number PTA-12043.
 6. The plant of claim 1, wherein theplant is a plant of line SBO 99-1245 or line SMO 99-1258.
 7. A plantpart of the plant of claim
 1. 8. The plant part of claim 7, furtherdefined as a leaf, a ovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 9. A pepperplant having all the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe pepper plant of claim
 5. 10. A pepper plant having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the pepper plant ofclaim
 6. 11. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of the plant ofclaim
 1. 12. The tissue culture according to claim 11, comprising cellsor protoplasts from a plant part selected from the group consisting ofembryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, roottips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 13. A pepper plant regeneratedfrom the tissue culture of claim 12, wherein said plant has all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the pepper plantcomprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of pepper line SBO99-1245 or pepper line SMO 99-1258, a sample of seed of said lineshaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12044 and ATCCAccession Number PTA-12045, respectively.
 14. A method of vegetativelypropagating the pepper plant of claim 1 comprising the steps of: (a)collecting tissue capable of being propagated from a plant according toclaim 1; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferated shoots; and(c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising growing at least a first pepperplant from said rooted plantlets.
 16. A method of introducing a desiredtrait into a pepper line comprising: (a) utilizing as a recurrent parenta plant of either pepper line SBO 99-1245 or pepper line SMO 99-1258, bycrossing a plant of pepper line SBO 99-1245 or pepper line SMO 99-1258with a second donor pepper plant that comprises a desired trait toproduce F1 progeny, a sample of seed of said lines having been depositedunder ATCC Accession Number PTA-12044, and ATCC Accession NumberPTA-12045, respectively; (b) selecting an F1 progeny that comprises thedesired trait; (c) backcrossing the selected F1 progeny with a plant ofthe same pepper line used as the recurrent parent in step (a), toproduce backcross progeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny comprisingthe desired trait and the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent pepper line used in step (a);and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more times to produceselected fourth or higher backcross progeny that comprise the desiredtrait, and otherwise comprise essentially all of the morphological andphysiological characteristics of the recurrent parent pepper line usedin step (a).
 17. A pepper plant produced by the method of claim
 16. 18.A method of producing a pepper plant comprising an added trait, themethod comprising introducing a transgene conferring the trait into aplant of pepper hybrid PX 09939610, pepper line SBO 99-1245 or pepperline SMO 99-1258, a sample of seed of said hybrid and lines having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12043, ATCC Accession NumberPTA-12044, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-12045, respectively.
 19. Apepper plant produced by the method of claim
 18. 20. The plant of claim1, further comprising a transgene.
 21. The plant of claim 20, whereinthe transgene confers a trait selected from the group consisting of malesterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance,disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified proteinmetabolism.
 22. The plant of claim 1, further comprising a single locusconversion, wherein said plant otherwise comprises essentially all ofthe morphological and physiological characteristics of the pepper plantcomprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of pepper line SBO99-1245 or pepper line SMO 99-1258, a sample of seed of said lineshaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12044 and ATCCAccession Number PTA-12045, respectively.
 23. The plant of claim 22,wherein the single locus conversion confers a trait selected from thegroup consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insectresistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acidmetabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydratemetabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 24. A method for producing apepper seed of a plant derived from at least one of pepper hybrid PX09939610, pepper line SBO 99-1245 or pepper line SMO 99-1258 comprisingthe steps of: (a) crossing a pepper plant of hybrid PX 09939610, lineSBO 99-1245 or line SMO 99-1258 with itself or a second pepper plant; asample of seed of said hybrid and lines having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-12043, ATCC Accession Number PTA-12044, and ATCCAccession Number PTA-12045, respectively; and (b) allowing seed of ahybrid PX 09939610, line SBO 99-1245 or line SMO 99-1258-derived pepperplant to form.
 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the stepsof: (c) selfing a plant grown from said hybrid PX 09939610, line SBO99-1245 or line SMO 99-1258-derived pepper seed to yield additionalhybrid PX 09939610, line SBO 99-1245 or line SMO 99-1258-derived pepperseed; (d) growing said additional hybrid PX 09939610, line SBO 99-1245or line SMO 99-1258-derived pepper seed of step (c) to yield additionalhybrid PX 09939610, line SBO 99-1245 or line SMO 99-1258-derived pepperplants; and (e) repeating the crossing and growing steps of (c) and (d)to generate at least a first further hybrid PX 09939610, line SBO99-1245 or line SMO 99-1258-derived pepper plant.
 26. The method ofclaim 24, wherein the second pepper plant is of an inbred pepper line.27. The method of claim 24, comprising crossing line SBO 99-1245 withline SMO 99-1258, a sample of seed of said lines having been depositedunder ATCC Accession Number PTA-12044, and ATCC Accession NumberPTA-12045, respectively.
 28. The method of claim 25, further comprising:(f) crossing the further hybrid PX 09939610, line SBO 99-1245 or lineSMO 99-1258-derived pepper plant with a second pepper plant to produceseed of a hybrid progeny plant.
 29. A hybrid pepper seed produced by themethod of claim
 27. 30. A pepper plant produced by growing the seed ofclaim
 29. 31. A plant part of the plant of claim
 30. 32. The plant partof claim 31; further defined as a leaf, a flower, a fruit, an ovule,pollen, or a cell.
 33. A method of producing a pepper seed comprisingcrossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or a second pepper plant andallowing seed to form.
 34. A method of producing a pepper fruitcomprising: (a) obtaining a plant according to claim 1, wherein theplant has been cultivated to maturity; and (b) collecting pepper fromthe plant.